Refined Products, Gasoline
March 27, 2025
Platts to amend quality specifications for Middle East gasoline assessments
HIGHLIGHTS
Platts to align Middle East Gasoline specifications to Euro 5 standards
Platts to maintain the distillation end point at a maximum of 210 °C
Platts to bring forward implementation date to May 2, 2025
Platts, part of S&P Global Commodity Insights, will amend the quality specifications reflected in its assessments of RON 92 and RON 95 gasoline cargoes loading from the Middle East (FOB Arab Gulf), effective May 2, 2025.
This decision follows a proposal note published Jan. 15 here: https://www.spglobal.com/commodity-insights/en/pricing-benchmarks/our-methodology/subscriber-notes/011525-platts-proposes-to-amend-quality-specifications-for-middle-east-gasoline-assessments(opens in a new tab)
In line with evolving gasoline markets in relation to cleaner fuels, the Platts FOB Fujairah outright assessments and the RON 92, RON 95 Arab Gulf FOB and CFR spot differential assessments will reflect gasoline specifications in line with the Euro 5 fuel standards with a maximum sulfur content of 0.001% (10 parts per million) from May 2.
Upon review of market feedback received during the proposal phase, Platts has decided to maintain the distillation end point at a maximum of 210 C instead of the proposed level of a maximum of 205 C. In addition, Platts has decided to bring forward the implementation date for the specification changes from July 1 to May 2, 2025.
| Platts Middle East gasoline specifications | |||
| Property | Unit | Reflected standard from May 2 | Current standard |
| Research Octane Number | - | Min 92, min 95 | Min 92, min 95 |
| Motor Octane Number | - | Min 82, min 85 | Min 82, min 85 |
| Appearance | - | Bright clear and free from water and suspended impurities | Clear |
| Odor | - | Marketable | Marketable |
| Color | - | Undyed | Undyed |
| Corrosion, copper strip (3 hrs at 50 °C) | - | Max 1 | Max 1 |
| Density at 15°C | g/ml | 0.72-0.775 | 0.72-0.78 |
| Distillation | |||
| 10% vol recovered at (°C) | °C | Max 80 | Max 80 |
| 50% vol recovered at (°C) | °C | Min 80, max 125 | Min 80, max 120 |
| 90% vol recovered at (°C) | °C | Max 180 | Max 180 |
| End point (°C) | °C | Max 2 10 | Max 210 |
| Residue | vol % | Max 2 | Max 2 |
| Doctor test | - | Negative | Negative |
| Gum, existent | mg/100 ml | Max 5 | Max 4 |
| Induction period | minutes | Min 360 | Min 480 |
| Lead content | gPb /l | Max 0.005 (no intentional addition) | Max 0.013 |
| Reid vapor pressure at 37.8 °C | psi | Max 9 | Max 9 |
| Sulfur | wt % | Max 0.001 | Max 0.01 |
| Oxygen content | wt % | 2.7 | - |
| Allowed oxygenates (if added) | vol % | Max 15 (of which maximum MTBE content of 10.0) | Max 15 (of which maximum MTBE content of 10.0) |
| Alcohol | - | No additions of any alcohol | No additions of any alcohol |
| Aromatics | vol % | Max 35 | Max 35 |
| Benzene | vol % | Max 1 | Max 1 |
| Olefins | vol % | Max 18 | Max 18 |
| Additives | - | No metal additives; no metal octane boosters | No metal additives; no metal octane boosters |
| Manganese | mg/100 ml | 2.0 maximum | - |
| Iron (Fe) | mg/100 ml | No iron-based octane-enhancing additive permitted | - |
The changes in gasoline specifications for the Middle East will not affect the FOB Arab Gulf 92 and 95 RON netback assessments, which derive their values from the price assessments at the trading hub of Singapore after adjusting for shipping costs. These will continue to mirror the existing FOB Singapore gasoline specifications.
In addition, Platts would like to remind market participants of its ongoing consultation process to review the specifications reflected in its FOB Singapore RON 92, RON 95 and RON 97 assessments, found here: Platts opens consultation on FOB Singapore gasoline specifications | S&P Global(opens in a new tab). The feedback period for the consultation ends March 31, 2025.
Platts periodically reviews the specifications of its assessments to ensure they are representative of the most tradable grades.
Please send any feedback or questions to asia_products@spglobal.com and pricegroup@spglobal.com.
For written comments, please provide a clear indication if comments are not intended for publication by Platts for public viewing.
Platts will consider all comments received and will make comments not marked as confidential available upon request.